JPEG vs. NEF

Question

Hello,
I have recently started shooting in the NEF (RAW) format with my Nikon D7100. I literally consumed and swallowed the whole lot of articles regarding RAW vs. JPEG format and learned that RAW is better, RAW retains more data, RAW has more details, professionals use only RAW, etc. However, I took a few test shots of the same objects comparing NEF and 24 pixels JPEG and frankly after post-processing in Lightroom 5 was unable to see any significant difference between them. A few advantages of NEF (RAW) that I nevertheless can see are that LR has more editing options for RAW such as more options in WB editing, lens correction and camera calibration. Another possible advantage of RAW is that it does not require messing with WB, day light control and other initial camera set-up. Thus, my question is whether it is worth shooting in RAW given that is takes more space on a memory card and after alI I have to save the edited RAW file as JPEG on my hard drive? Does the edited RAW file lose data after exporting it on a hard drive as JPEG? I would appreciate it if anybody could share knowledge.
Thanks and regards,
Alex

Answer 1

Simon G E Garrett wrote:
If you don't do any significant editing on the image, and you don't need full dynamic range, jpeg is pretty much as good as raw.
Advantages of raw:
Raw can capture 3 - 4 stops more dynamic range, i.e. the range between the lightest and darkest parts of the picture
Exposure latitude: raw can recover from much more over or under exposure without loss or damage to image information
Much greater ability to alter colour and white balance in post processing.  More than minor wb adjustment in jpeg can result in unwanted hue changes or loss of image detail
Much greater ability to alter tonal balace in post processing.
In addition to color and tone, there is also detail - you can't un-apply noise reduction (or sharpening) done to the jpeg, for example.